SpaceX's new rocket, designed for space missions to both the Moon and Mars, was tested today. The rocket exploded during the launch, prompting cheers from employees who had gathered to watch a live stream of the event. The Starship s rocket, the most powerful ever-developed rocket, blasted into space earlier today, but the rocket exploded minutes after it cleared the launch pad on Thursday. The explosion happened while SpaceX engineers were waiting for the separation.
The cause of the explosion and separation failure was not immediately known, however, the fact that the rocket's blast-off already meant the test was considered a success by the company.
However, the uncrewed rocket was ignited and launched into the sky for approximately four minutes, but the separation of the spacecraft and the booster atop the rocket appears to have failed. Also, some of the 33 engines of the booster appeared not to have ignited. The rocket started to plummet down into the air before eventually exploding.
SpaceX's CEO, Bill Nelson, congratulated SpaceX for the test.
The starship is the most powerful rocket that can propel astronauts to places beyond the Moon, with engines capable of generating 17 million pounds of thrust. The starship's innovative approach to utilizing reusable launchers could ultimately result in individual flights costing less than $10 million.
Starship is a key part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to launch cargo and humans on the moon in 2025. Elon Musk, SpaceX's CEO, revealed the SpaceX Starship launch plan for Mars by 2024 at the Mars Society Virtual Convention.
I think we ve got a fighting chance, he said of the 2024 Mars transport window. Musk said he plans to use Starship to launch people to the moon and Mars soon.